The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-23
A QUEER HARVEST.
GATHERING A SALINE CROP IN
THE BAHAMAS.
The Great Salt Cay of Ragged
Island-At Work in the La
Goon-Collecting the
Salt Crystals.

At the southern end of chain of coral
reefs which break the force of the sea
where the trade winds throw the waves
upon the Great Bahama Bank is cay, or
key, large enough to be inhabited, and to
possess the distinguishing name of
Ragged Island. As far as vegetation is
concerned, the island looks as if it would
make poor goat pasture, much less sus-
tain tine twenty or thirty families who
have made the place their home. I'm
munity from rain in summer together
with the possession of a large lagoon
which covers all that portion of the island
which is not rock or sand, so far from
making the spot uninhabitable, are the
only conditions that render the existence
of the community possible. The island,
like the better known Turks island, is
salt cay, and the natives spend the whole
summer in gathering harvest which is
as worthless to them rs the velvety coral
sand that strews their beach, until some
vessel, at loss for cargo, bra yes au-
tumn hurricanes and the encirciing reefs,
and transports the product to some place
where it is wanted.
It was for this that our vessel turned
aside on her homeward passage from the
Windward Islands, and ratified out her
anchor one morning early in September
about six miles to leeward of the island.
The water on the bank was of a pale
emerald tint, and so clear that one could
see on the bottom twigs of creamy coral,
violet sea-fans waving slowly to and fro,
and tortoise crawling towards its nest.
A large portion of the population came
as the negro customs officer, who sailed
under red bandanna in lieu OF an Eng
lish ensign, had finished his examination,
they swarmcd aboard. There were but
three white men on the island, one. of
whom was our consignee. The latter,
whose name was Williams, placed the
vessel in charge of his brother as pilot,
to take her to a better anchorage.
The little hamlet consisted of white
washed huts, built of stones and thatched
with palmetto leaves, scattered irregu-
larly upon little rocky hill. Near the
landing cluster of palmetto -thatched
gables proved to be the covering of large
pyramids of salt awaiting shipment.
The house of Mr.. Williams was like the
others, but larger; and the thatch was
extended over veranda, whose cool
brown shade looked very inviting from
the glare outside. A pretty decorative
effect was given by the regular lines Of
the light framework which sustained the
roof, crossed and interlaced by the bands
which fastened down the thatch. Two
or three bright colored lizards scurried
up the posts and opened their flaming
little Jaws at Us as we entered.
Mr.. Williams refreshed us with cool
ing drink, resembling lemonade, made by
turning water over tamarinds. After
wards he led the way to his harvest-tields.
From the crest of the hill fine view was
opened to the eastward over leagues of
sea, whose deep ultramarine changed to
delicate opalescent tints on the coral
reefs. Through break in the outer
line of the island the sea-water flowed in
and filled large lagoon Governing
a number of acres. The lagoon was
divided into square patches of pink-col-
orcd water by dykes and crosswalks of
black earth. In some of these watery
fields men were at work, and an irregu-
lar procession of women and children
wound up over the hill and down to
the boat-landing, carrying baskets on
their heads, filled from white heaps on
the banks of the lagoon. BY means of
gates from a main canal, the water was
let into one pond after another, covering
the fiat bottom only few inches deep.
The rays of the sun evaporate the water
in a few days, and as the solution in
crcases in density it gradually takes a
pinkish hue and gives off strong smell
OF chlorides. The crystals of salt at last
form on the bottom. At this stage a
heavy shower would be as unwelcome as
in bayfield, where the grass is curing
upon the ground; for very little fresh
water would redissolve the salt, and the
evaporation would have to begin anew.
The workers do not wait until all the
water dries away, but wade into the
shallow ponds-mcn, women and chill
dren, with trousers and skirts tucked up
and rake the crystals together in rows,
as hay is raked in the fields. The water
washes away what earth is raked up with
the salt, and when the men with shovcls
throw it together in little heaps Ike hay
cocks, it falls in glistening mass OF pure
rosy white. As soon as ponds cleared
the muddy water is drained away and
the process begins anew. The salt
harvester gathers number of crops dur
ing the season. With the whole ocean
to draw upon, it would seem that the
busincs, might be ovcrdone in these lati-
tudcs, but we were told that pond with
the right kind of bottom for saltmakiIg
is rarely found.-Neio York Post.